Huller rib



May 11, 1938. 1 J RE N 2,119,186

HULLER RIB Filed Jan. 27. 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 31; 1938. STREUN2,119,13fi

HULLER RIB Filed Jan. 27, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a me when Patented May31 193$ um'rir STATES;

HULLER Rm J olm Str'eun, Sherman, Tom, assignor to Hard wiclre-EtterCompany, Sherman, Tern, a corporation at Texas Application January 27,

11 Claims.

The present'invention relates to improvements in the construction andoperation of cotton huiler gins and more especially to simple, eflicientand economical means for preventing the clogging or collecting of cottonat the top of the huiler ribs during the operation of the gin, and meansfor feeding the cotton into the roll box to be ginned without breakingor damaging "the same.

It has been found that in cotton gins oi the solid rib type as formerlyused, the staple cotton has a tendency to clog in the spaces between thesolid ribs and the saws at the top of the huiler ribs, due to the factthat no means were provided either to remove or to permit the escape ofthe cotton, collected at these points. Further, be-

cause the staple cotton is more or less stringy, the locks also haveatendency to be caught'by, the

saws which causes the ends of the locks to be pulled through the ribs sothat the centers of the stretched out locks are wrapped around the ribsand startwhat is called clogging upthe top oithe huiler ribs at pointsimmediately above 7 the saws. Thiscongestion of the cotton necessitatesthe operator stopping the gin to remove the lodged cotton and also isliable to set the cotton on fire due to'the frictional engagement of thesaws with the bunched cotton. A further dis: advantage found in thesolid rib huiler gin is that when the cotton starts to clog the ribs,the ends of the locks of cottonprotrude inwardly-and obstruct thepassage between the huller ribs and the ginning ribs with the resultthat the seed from the roll boxcannot be discharged therefrom. Thiscongestion causes the roll in the roll box to be tightened, whichdamages the sample and grade of the lint. A further disadvantage foundto exist in the closed rib type and in types in which no provision ismade to prevent the clogging or re- I moval of the cotton from thehuiler ribs, is that when the ribs clog, the capacity of the gin is, re-

duced since the saws will continue to wedge or force more cotton intothe clogged places at the top of the ribs, thus damaging the sample orgrade of the cotton by reason of the preginning at the clogged points.This clogging also produces a grade of lint full of naps and kinksattributable to the cotton being dragged through the obstructed openingsbetween the ribs. An important feature of the present invention is toovercome these objections by providing the huiler gin with split ribshaving upper and lower huiler rib sections separated by a transverselydisposed gap adjacent the saw teeth or the saw point, and associatingwith the upper section of the ribs. revoluble means positioned in closeproximity to 1937, Serial No. 122,666

but spaced from the ribs and the gap, to impart a wiping action to thelocks of cotton collected on ing spaced partially closed downwardly andout- 10 wardly extending ribs, and a, lower plate having upwardlyprojecting ribs registering with adjacent ribs on the upper plate butspaced therefrom to-provide a gap or'opening between the opposed ends ofthe ribs on the plates. The spaces 1 between the ribs of the upper plateinstead of being completely closed and of the same width throughouttheir length, are provided with ribs or walls which extend from theclosed ends of the ribs toward their open ends and terminate short 20 4of the open ends to provide a through opening between adjacent ribs. Thepartially closed portions or webs between the ribs oi the upper plateextend across the top of the ribs and are preferably shaped to provide arecess or groove between 25 adjacent ribs which is enclosed at its upperend by a curved or concave tapering inner wall that decreases in areatoward the closed ends of the ribs where it merges into the outersurface of the upperplate. The webs serve to prevent 0 seed fromescaping from the roll box into the huiler chamber, and also preventcotton from straddling the ribs of the upper plate or projecting intothe roll box. Further, the partial closing of the spaces between theribs of the upper plate 35 render it unnecessary to provide a pickerroll having fingers or spikes extending between the ribs to keep themclear, such as is shown in my copending application now Patent No. 2,104,889, dated January 11, 1938. 40

Another object consists in associating with a split huiler rib andadjacent the gap between the plates, a revolublemember having a seriesof independently removable sleeves or tubular members, each of which isprovided with diametri- 45 cally opposed segmental vanes or bladesarranged adjustably to be moved into close proximity to the ribs and gapso that when the blades are rotated at a high rate of speed, theyprovide a wiping action for the purpose of stripping the ribs 50 of theupper plate of any cotton collected thereon and also prevent hulls orparticles of large foreign matter from .passing between the ribs andinto the roll box.

A further object consists in associating with 5 upper huller plate,movable seed fingers arranged directly above and in substantialregistration with adjacent ribs of the upper plate, for the purpose ofadjusting the density of the roll in the roll box by raising or loweringthe roll relative to the saw teeth in order to control the rate ofginning and the escape of the seed from the roll box without danger ofthe seed falling into the huller chamber.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying claims and drawings.

..Referrlng to the drawings, in which there is shown a preferredembodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a cotton gin having the hullerribs and their associated parts constructed in accordance with myinvention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 ofFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3--3 ofFigure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the upper huller plate or section takensubstantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a detailed perspective view of one of the upper plates ofthe huller ribs;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the blade or vane type revolublemembers that are associated with the split huller ribs.

Referring to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts inthe several views, I designates a gin frame to which is pivotallyconnected the gin breast II as at l2. Fastened to a revoluble shaft I3is a saw cylinder 4 to which is secured a series of axially disposedspaced gin saws l that may be operated in the usual manner, by suitabledriving means, not shown.

The gin breast preferably comprises a rear member l6 (Fig. 1) having anupper roll box section I1 and a lower section l3. Associated with therear member I6 is a huller breast or forward member 9 pivoted as at tothe gin breast, and provided with a coacting upper roll box section 2|and a lower section 22. The upper sections l1 and 2| constitute the rollbox 23 which is of suitable shape to accommodate the change in pressureon the roll to insure the roll turning freely in the roll box during theginning operation. A series of curved gin ribs 24 are suitably securedat their ends to the rear section It. I

The huller ribs of the gin instead of being closed are split orinterrupted, and are preferably composed of a series of lower plates 25with which is associated a huller rib rail 26 having elongated slots 21through which screws 23 extend so as to be threaded into alignedopenings in a transversely disposed bar 29 on the lower section 22, forthe purpose of securing the plates 25 to the gin. The elongated slots2'! permit the plates 25 to be adjusted vertically and these plates maybe retained in their adjusted position by set screws 30 which bearagainst the outer face of the rib rail 26. Projecting upwardly from eachof the plates 25 are a series of huller ribs 3| between which extend thegin saws IS in the manner as shown in Figure 1, when the parts are intheir operative positions.

Associated with each of the lower plates 25 is an upper plate 32 whichmay be secured to the front of the huller breast adjacent the botribs(Figure 5).

the web which partially close the ribs of the tom of the roll box 23 bythe screws 32. The plates 32 have extending downwardly and outwardlytherefrom, spaced thin huller ribs 33 which are wider at their lowerends than at their upper ends. These ribs register with the ribs 3| onthe lower plate, but are spaced therefrom to provide a transverselydisposed gap 34 that extends the length of the huller breasts andprojects outside the teeth 35 of the gin saws. The ribs 33 on the upperplates 32 are shorter and thinner than the ribs 3| on the lower plateand instead of being open throughout their length, are partially closedby a web or wall 36 extending from the top of these ribs to close thespace between adjacent ribs, so as to provide the recesses ordepressions 31 which extend lengthwise between the ribs 33 and the web36. While the plates 25 and 32 have been shown formed of a series ofseparately longitudinally disposed sections, carrying a plurality ofupper and lower ribs and secured to the gin breast, it will beunderstood that this construction may be varied mechanically. Forexample, the ribs 3| and the ribs 33 could, if desired, be individuallyformed. together with their supporting plates, and secured singly inoperative relation to one another, or the plates 25 and the plates 32may be constructed in one piece with the ribs projecting therefrom.

The web 36 extends from the upper closed ends of the ribs 33 towardtheir lower open or free ends and terminates short of these ends toprovide through openings 38 between adjacent The partially closedportions or webs 36 between the ribs 33 are preferably shaped toconstitute curved or concaved inner walls 39 between the ribs. Thesewalls extend upwardly and decrease in area towards the closed ends ofthe ribs where they merge into the outer surface of the plate 32. Thelower end portions of the webs 36 between each of the ribs 33 terminatesin a curved or tapered edge 40 spaced from the gap 34, while the lowerends of the ribs 33 preferably are formed with rounded corners or edges4|.

A revoluble shaft 42 extends transversely through the sides of the ginand is supported by the hangers 43 pivotally connected to the sides ofthe gin breast as at 44. Each of the hangers 43 has spaced arcuate slots45 and 46 through which extend the threaded bolts 41 that are receivedin complementary threaded openings formed in the sides of the gin breastto secure the shaft 32 in its desired adjusted position. A series oflongitudinally disposed sleeves or tubular members 48 are fastened tothe shaft in any suitable manner, such as by the set screws 49 so as tobe independently removable therefrom. Extending outwardly from each ofthe sleeves are a pair of diametrically opposed blades or vanes 50 whichmay be curved rearwardly so as to be of segmental shape. The ribs oneach sleeve 48 are preferably disposed at substantially right angles tothe ribs on the adjacent sleeves so that alternate ribs are insubstantially the same vertical or horizontal planes (Figure 6).

The front portion l9 of the gin breast is provided with a huller breastchamber 5| spaced in front of the section 2| to receive the cotton andconduct the same to the picker roll 52. A deflecting plate 53 supportedat its lower end by a bracket 54 secured to the inner wall of the ginbreast, acts to direct the cotton toward the gin saws l5. Below thepicker roll 52 is a trough 55 in which is revolubly mounted a screwconveyor 56 for removing, from the gin, trash, dirt and other foreignmatter which fall from the cotton in the huller chamber. The cotton asit passes from the deflector plate 33 is conducted by the picker roll 52to the gin saws 95 which 33. An adjustable mote board 33, above thenozzle bl acts to deflect the motes downwardly toward the conveyor Bilfor removing the same 1 from the gin.

. A revoluble shaft ti extends transversely of the gin breast and abovethe upper plates 32, and is provided with a series of radial, spacedseed fingers 32 (Figure 2) which are located di rectly over. the web 33and the ribs 33 so that a finger is positioned between each of the ginsaws. An operating handle 33 Tastened outside of the gin 'to the shaftti (Figure ,3) actuates the fingers and may be retained in apredetermined fixed position by a rack member 33 secured by the screws35 to the gin breast. The lower portion of the roll box 33 may have adepending flexible'skirt 36 which extends a sumcient distance toyieldably engage the seed fingers 33 so as to be movable therewith'whenthe shaft iii is actuated. Upon the operation of the handle33, thefingers 62 may be raised or lowered to adjust the density of the roll inthe roll box 33. By raising the roll from the saw teeth. the rate ofginning and the escape of the seed through the discharge passage 67formed between, the ginning ribs and the hulling ribs may be to thedriving mechanism which operates the gin 7 32 may be secured by thescrews 32.

is fed to the huller chamber i, it is deflected by the plate 33towardthe picker roll 53 which,

in any suitable manner, and may have fastened thereto a pulley wheel 63which is connected to In operation it will be seen that as the cottonrotates in a counter-clockwise direction so as to conduct the cotton tothe gin saws It. The saws catch the seed cotton and convey it up betweenthe huller ribs in such a manner that if any stringy locks are caught bythe saws, they will be passed into the'roll box 23 through the gap 33and will not have a tendency to wind around the ribs or interfere withthe efiicient operation of the gin saws.

Should any of the cotton be carried past the gap 34 and collect on theribs 33 of the upper plate 32, the Wiping action imparted by the blades50 which rotate in a counter-clockwise direction and at a high rate ofspeed, will serve to move or knock the locks downwardly toward the gap33 so as to clear-the plates 32. The

blades will also strip any hulls back to prevent them from enteringbetween the ribs or the gap into the. roll box. The hangers 43 carryingthe shaft 32 are, of course, previously adjusted by the operator, sothat the blades 50 are positioned in proper close proximity to the ribs33 and the gap 34 toinsure the removal of the cotton from .the plate '33during the operation of the gin.

The web 33 is so shaped and positioned as not only to prevent the seedfrom escaping from the roll box 33 into the hulling chamber 3i, but alsoprecludes the cotton from straddling the ends of the ribs 33. The webalso eliminates the possibility of the lint on the huller ribs fromextending into the roll box between the ribs 33. As the end portions 33of the web 36 terminate short of the ends of the ribs 33, they providethe openings 33 which allow the seed to fall undamaged into thedischarge passage til. ther, since the ends 3! of the thin ribs 33 arerounded, they will prevent the'crushing of the seed during the ginningoperation and will permit the seed to fall or slip over into theopenings 33 without being damaged.

By reason-of the adjustability of the-shaft 32, the blades 33 may bemoved toward or away from the huller ribs depending upon the grade ortype of cotton being ginned. Moreover, the adjustable connection ofthelower plates 33 to the bar 33 by the screws 126 permits the space orgap 34 between the opposed inner ends of the split huller ribs to beVaried in accordance with the quality of the cotton being ginned. Theset screws 33 which engage the rail 26 insure each plate 35 being firmlysecured in the desired position relative to its complementary upperplate 32 in order to maintain the gap 33 uniform and constant throughoutthe length of the gin breast. Arcuate slots or openings ll (Fig. 3) inthe sides of the gin breast permit the shaft 42 to be moved so that theblades 30 may be secured in their proper Fur adjusted positions relativeto the ribs 33 and the gap 33. I

As the web 36 partially closes the top or upper sides of the huller ribs33 and'is positioned directly beneath the seed lingers 62, it will notonly preclude the seed from falling into the huller chamber ill, but'willalsoact to prevent the cotton from straddling the ribs 33. andextending intothe roll box between the ribs. Further, when the fingers62 are raised by the actuation of the handle 33, the roll in the rollbox may be tightened by lifting the cotton oi? the saws and exposingless teeth to act on the cotton I recesses 31.

It will be seen that by reason of the novel as sociation of the blades33 with the partially closed huller ribs 33 and the gap 33, thateflicient and positive means are provided to prevent the cotton fromwrapping or looping around the ribs and collecting "at the top thereof,and for imparting a wiping and smoothing action to the cotton collectedon the ribs 33 in order to move 5 of the ribs to close the same andprovide 'the the same toward the gap 34 where the cotton is caught bythe teeth of the saws l and carried through the roll box so as to bedischarged.

from the gin through the flue 58, without being broken or damaged.

While the revoluble means for conducting the cotton through the gapshown in my Patent No. 2,104,889, works satisfactorily when the cottonis fed at a regulated speed, it is open to the objection that if thecotton is overfed to the hulling chamber, the seed and cotton aredamaged during the ginning operation. Thus, if the operator in startingthe gin allows a large batch to accumulate and then dumps the entiremass into the 'hulling chamber, the quantity of the cotton is such thatthe saws are unable to pitch a batch of the cotton up at one time to thegap. The teeth on the auxiliary roller during their counter-clockwiserotation will catch some of the cotton in the hulling chamber and forcethe same over the top of the teeth and down between the teeth of theroller and the upper rib plates, thus wedging the cotton against theribs, which seriouslydamages the staple by the thrashing effectproduced. This lowers the grade of the cotton which is the first to gointo the bale and which is on the side the sample is taken from.Consequently, the farmer is deprived of the best and only real sample ofthe bale, which means he must take a lower price for his cotton due toits damaged condition.

The damaging of the cotton in this manner is avoided in the presentinvention, since if the gin is overfed, the recesses 31 between the thinhuller ribs and the web 36 constitute means in the form of grooves forreceiving the seed and the cotton that clings to the seed and pushes thesame between the ribs 33 into the recesses 31 without injury to eitherthe seed or the fiber. In other words, if the operator allows the cottonto accumulate in the seed chute and on starting the gin, dumps theentire mass into the hulling chamber 5| so that some of the unginnedcotton is caught by the blades 50 and carried downwardly past the ribs33, the rearward curvature of the blades will coact with thecomplementary curved portions of the ribs 33 so as not to produce atearing effect on the cotton fibers as would be the case if a straightvaned rib were used. Moreover, as the blades 50 brush the cottondownwardly past the ribs 33, the seed clinging to the cotton is pushedin between the ribs into the grooves 31 without injury to either theseed or the fiber. If the huller ribs were solid or if the grooves 31were not provided, the cotton would be wedged against the ribs, whichwould not only damage the lint due to the mass passing over the ribs butwould also crush the seeds in the cotton and destroy the same. Further,the husks of the seed would remain in the lint and be conducted to theroll box to form a part of the sample which would lower the grade andvalue of the lint.

The saws I5 are arranged to run close to the blades 50 so that when thecotton is fed in a steady stream and at the proper rate of feed, thecotton will not be carried by the blades 50 past the ribs 33, 'due tothe fact that the backward curve of these blades will not allow any avery high speed so that the centrifugal force developed has a tendencyto throw the cotton loose from the saws. If the cotton is caught by morethan one saw, the loop catches on the end of the upper ribs 33 and isimmediately brushed downwardly to the gap 34 by the blades 50 and thenis carried by the saws through the gap into the roll box 23. If thecentrifugal force fails to throw the cotton up to the gap and the cottontries to loop over the ends of the lower ribs 3|, the oncoming cottonwhich is held by the saw teeth acts to drive these loops up over the ribends and through the gap. Thus, the saws always keep the ends of thelower ribs clear of the loops, while the auxiliary roller or blades 50move any cotton that might collect on the upper short ribs downwardlytoward the gap.

The blades 50 also tend to reduce the bulk of the cotton so that it willpass through the gap without wedging, and if any of the lint should workits way over the top of the shaft 42, the same is wiped back to the gapwithout injury either to the cotton or the seed.

Thus, it will be seen that by virtue of the novel association of thewebbed ribs 33 and the blades 50 with the other parts of this gin, meansare provided for eliminating seed wastage and for preventing thecrushing of the seed and the congestion of the cotton against the sawteeth.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention shown is merelyillustrative of a preferred embodiment, and that such changes may bemade as fall within the purview of one skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:-

1. A cotton gin of the class described including gin saws, huller ribsin cooperative relation to the saws, said ribs being interrupted toprovide an upper section and a lower section separated by a transverselydisposed gap, said upper section having a web connecting the adjacentribs and terminating short of the free ends thereof to provide openingsbetween the ribs adjacent the gap, a shaft revolubly mounted in the gin,and a series of axially disposed sleeves independently fastened to theshaft, each of said sleeves having opposed segmental blades positionedsubstantially at right angles to the adjacent blades, said bladesarranged to be rotated in close proximity to the ribs whereby to movethe cotton collected on the upper section toward the gap and the ginsaws during the operation of the gin.

2. A cotton gin of the class described including gin saws, spaced hullerribs in cooperative relation to the saws, said ribs being interrupted toprovide an upper section and a lower section sep arated by atransversely disposed gap extending outside the saws, said upper sectionhaving the tops of the ribs closed, the inner walls between the ribs ofthe upper section being curved and terminating short of the lower freeends of the ribs to provide openings adjacent the gap, and revolublemeans disposed relative to the upper section and the gap to impart awiping action to the cotton collected on the upper section to move thesame toward the gap, the spaces between the ribs of the upper sectioncoacting with their closed tops to form recesses for receiving thecotton seed and prevent the latter from being damaged by the revolublemeans during the operation of the gin.

3. A cotton gin of the class described including gin saws, hulling ribsin cooperative relation to the saws, said ribs being interrupted toprovide an upper section and a lower section separated by a transverselydisposed gap, said upper section having webs connecting the top of theribs and terminating short of the free ends there- 5 onto provideopening between the ribs adjacent the gap, at revoluble shaft mounted inthe gin, and a series of axially disposed sleeves fastened to saidshaft, each of said sleeves having diametrically opposed segmentalblades disposed substantially at right angles to the blades of theadjacent sleeves, said blades being positioned in close proximity to theribs of theupper section whereby tomove cotton collected on the uppersection toward the gap and the gin saws.

l 4, In a cotton gin of the class described, a roll box, gin sawsassociated with the roll box for conducting the cotton thereto, an upperplate secured to the roll box adjacent the saws and provided withdownwardly extending spaced ribs, a v lower plate secured to the gin andhaving up wardly projecting spaced ribs registering with adjacent ribson the upper plate, the aligned ribs on said plates being spaced fromone another adjacent the teeth of the saws to provide a gap whichextends beyond the saws, said upper plate having the top surfaces of theribs closed by a web except at the ends adjacent the gap, the inner wallof the web between the ribs being concaved and converging toward thegap, and revoluble blades in close proximity to the ribs of the upperplate for conducting the cotton collected thereon to the gapand the ginsaws-during the operation of the gin, the spaces between the ribs 01'the upper section coacting with the webto a form grooves for receivingthe seed and prevent the latter from being damaged by the blades.

5. In a cotton gin of the class described, a roll box, gin sawsassociated with the roll box for conducting the cotton thereto, an upperplate se cured to the roll box adjacent the saws and provided withdepending spaced ribs a lower plate secured to the gin and havingupwardly extending spaced ribs registering with adjacent ribs on theupper plate, the aligned ribs on said plates being 5 spaced from oneanother adjacent the periphtical alignment with adjacent ribs on theupper plate, and a revoluble member having a plurality of opposed andalternately disposed blades positioned in close proximity tobut out ofengagement with the spaces between the ribs in the upper plate wherebyto move cotton collected on 00 the ribs of the upper plate toward-thegap and the gin saws.

6; In a cotton gin of the class described, a roll box, gin sawsassociated with the roll box for conducting the .cotton thereto, anupper plate securedtothe roll'box adjacent the saws and provided withdepending spaced ribs, a lower plate secured to the gin and havingupwardly extending spaced ribs registering with adjacent ribs on theupper plate, the aligned ribs on said plates being spaced from oneanother adjacent the peripheries of the saws to provide a gap, the ribsof the upper plate being provided with rounded corners and connected byweb portions terminating short of the free ends of the ribs to provideopen spaces between the ribs adjacent the gap,

revoluble members having axially disposed blades v to move the sametoward the gap and the gin saws, and means for adjusting the bladesrela- 1 tive to the ribs.

7. Acotton gin of the class described, a roll 10 box, gin sawsassociated with the roll'box for conducting the cotton thereto, an upperplate secured to the roll box adjacent the saws and provided withdepending spaced ribs, 9. lower plate secured to the gin and havingupwardly extendl5 ing spaced ribs registering with adjacent ribs on theupper plate, the aligned ribs on said plates being spaced from oneanother adjacent the peripheris of the saws to provide, a gap, the ribsof "the upper plate having rounded corners and 20 closed at their topsby webs terminating short of the free ends of the ribs to provide openspaces between the ribs, a. series of seed fingers pivotally mounted inthe roll box, said fingers being disposed above and in alignment withadjacent ribs 25 on the upper plate, a shaft on the roll box adjacentthe longitudinally disposed saws, and a series of segmental bladesextending outwardly from the shaft, said blades being alternatelydisposed at right angles to adjacent blades and in 30 close proximity tothe ribs of the upper plate whereby to move thecotton collected on theupper plate toward the gap and the gin saws. a

8. In a cotton gin of the class described, a roll box, gin sawsassociated with the roll box for 35 conducting the cotton thereto, anupper plate secured to the roll box adjacent the saws and provided withdownwardly extending spaced ribs, a lower plate secured to the gin andhaving upwardly projecting ribs registering with adjacent 40 ribs on theupper plate, the aligned ribs on said plates being spaced from oneanother adjacent the teeth of the saws to provide a gap which extendsbeyond the saws, said upper plate having the spaces between the ribsclosed by a web ex- '45 cept at the ends adjacent the gap, the innerwall of the web between the ribs being concave and merging at one endwith the outer face of the upper plate and converging at its oppositeend toward the gap, and revoluble members positioned 5 in closeproximity to the ribs or the upper plate for conducting cotton collectedthereon to the gap during the operation of the machine, the

conducting the cotton thereto, a. huller breast having an upper huller'rib rail and a spaced lower -huller rib rail, an upper plate connectedto the uppervrib rail adjacent thej saws and provided with dependingspaced ribs, a lower plate connected to the'lower rib rail and havingupwardly 65 extending spaced ribs registering with adjacent ribs on theupper plate, the aligned ribs on said plates being spaced from oneanother adjacent the peripheries of the saws to provide a gap, the ribsof the upper plate being provided with round- 70 ed corners andconnected by web portions terminating short of the iree ends of the ribsto provide open spacesbetween the ribs adjacent the gap, a series ofseed fingers pivotally mounted in the front or the roll box, saidfingers being dis- '!6 posed above and in vertical alignment withadjacent ribsron the upper plate, and a revoluble member having aplurality of opposed and alternately disposed blades positioned in closeproximity to but out of engagement with the spaces between the ribs inthe upper plate whereby to move cotton collected on the ribs of theupper plate toward the gap and the gin saws.

101 A cotton gin of the class described including gin saws, spacedhuller ribs in cooperative relation to the saws, said ribs beinginterrupted to provide an upper section and a lower section separated bya transversely disposed gap, the ribs of the lower section extendingupwardly to the periphery of the saw teeth so that the gap extends tothe cotton collected on the upper section to move the same toward thegap and the gin saws.

11. A cotton gin of the class described including gin saws, spacedhuller ribs in cooperative relation to the saws, said ribs beinginterrupted to provide an upper section and a lower section separated bya transversely disposed gap, the ribs or the lower section extendingupwardly to the periphery of the saw teeth so that the gap extendsoutside of the saws to provide a clear space for the cotton to passthrough, said upper section including a plate having spaced dependingribs projecting from the underside thereof, the opposite side of theplate having a transverse web overlapping the spaces between the ribsand terminating' short of the lower free ends thereof to close thespaces between the upper rib's so as to prevent cotton from loopingaround the ribs, revoluble means disposed relative to the upper sectionin the gap for moving the' cotton collected on' the upper sectiontowards and through the gap so that the cotton is fed by the sawsthrough the gap without looping around the ribs or congesting thereon,and means for adjusting the revoluble member relative to the hullerribs.

- JOHN A. STREUN.

